Are there big spiders in Madeira?

Assessment Rationale: The Desertas Islands (Madeira, Portugal) are the sole home of one of the largest and rarest wolf spider species worldwide, Hogna ingens (Blackwall, 1857) (Araneae, Lycosidae).



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The Madeira Wolf Spider (Hogna maderiana) is known throughout the island of Madeira (Portugal) in open habitats. This species has a restricted geographic range with a maximum estimate of extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) of ca 900 km².

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There are no venomous or dangerous animals on the island. In fact, there are no snakes at all on the island, and the spiders are not venomous. The only venomous spiders are on the Desertas Islands, but not on Madeira.

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In Madeira, also with a high diversity, the giant and colorful endemic wolf spiders from the genus Honga have a total of seven species (Crespo et al, 2022).

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Most are small to medium-sized. The largest, Hogna ingens, found only on Deserta Grande in the Madeira Islands, has a body about 2.5 cm (1 inch) long and legs about the same length. Most wolf spiders are dark brown.

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The Desertas Islands (Madeira, Portugal) are the sole home of one of the largest and rarest wolf spider species worldwide, Hogna ingens (Blackwall, 1857) (Araneae, Lycosidae).

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There are no venomous or dangerous animals on the island. In fact, there are no snakes at all on the island, and the spiders are not venomous. The only venomous spiders are on the Desertas Islands, but not on Madeira. With snakes and spiders out of our way, the only truly dangerous insect for us personally are bees.

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Calheta Beach is one of the island of Madeira's few yellow sandy beaches. A peaceful swimming experience is guaranteed by two piers, so you can exercise in the sea all year round. Ribeira do Natal Beach enjoys properties that make it one of the best places for swimming. The transparency of its waters is remarkable.

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Violent crime involving tourists is extremely rare in Madeira and so you have little to worry about with regard to personal safety. But as with any travel destination, it's important to take basic travel safety precautions such as keeping your valuables close by and/or hidden, especially at night.

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Natural Disasters The rainy season is from October through March. Floods may occur, especially on Madeira Island. Forest fires occur during the dry season.

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Species were selected (Table 1) according to the information available about coastal shark species present around Madeira Island [37]. A total of seven shark species were considered: Galeorhinus galeus, Mustelus mustelus, Sphyrna zygaena, Deania calceus, Prionace glauca, Carcharhinus obscurus, and Isurus oxyrinchus.

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Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in the Madeira Islands. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites.

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Madeira is a subtropical island that differs from other locations with similar climates in a very special way. The island has virtually no pests and is free of dangerous insects and bugs. Wild animals are limited to rabbits and birds. There are no snakes and no swarms of irritating mosquitoes!

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Portugal is a safe destination for solo travel—and so is Madeira. Solo travelers should take the same precautions they would anywhere else. These include: Watching your drinks made.

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The average standard of living tends to be a bit lower than in mainland Portugal, and the local autonomous government gives generous subsidies coming from the tourist industry revenues and from the Portuguese national budget. Go where the locals go and everything will be cheap.

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There is plenty of water in Madeira and it is all drinkable and of excellent quality. Porto Santo uses desalinated water, which is perfectly safe to drink.

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On March 4th, 1930, a sector of the Cape Girão cliff, located in the southern shore of Madeira Island, collapsed into the sea and generated an 8 m tsunami wave height.

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Fish that can be found in Madeira Archipelago undersea
  • Devil Rays. Manta Ray Manta birostris.
  • Eagle Rays. Eagle Ray Myliobatis aquila.
  • Stingrays. Round Stingray Taeniura grabata.
  • Butterfly Rays. Butterfly Ray Gymnura altavela.
  • Electic Rays. Marbled Electic Ray Torpedo marmorata.
  • Skates. ...
  • Lizard Fish. ...
  • Moray Eels.


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The water temperature remains very pleasant all year round, ranging between 19°C/66°F (winter) and 24°C/75°F (summer). The best month to swim in the sea is in September, when the average sea temperature is 24°C (75°F).

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Dolphins, Whales and Sea Lions The coastal waters of Madeira Island, are host to at least nine species of dolphins and ten species of migrating cetaceans. These are protected in the 430,000 km2 Madeiran Marine Mammal Sanctuary. The most commun wildlife are dolphins, whales and sea lions.

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